Days before the final on Sunday, New Jersey time, a 19-year-old photograph resurfaced on social media showing a young Lionel Messi bathing an infant Lamine Yamal in a plastic tub. The image captures a rare moment between two of FC Barcelona’s greatest La Masia academy talents, both of whom coincidentally began their professional careers at the Spanish club wearing the number 19 shirt.

However, critics have expressed skepticism, accusing soccer’s governing body, FIFA, of orchestrating a favorable path for the Messi-led defending champion. Skeptics point to Argentina’s relatively straightforward draw compared with those of its contenders. Allegations of favoritism were further fueled by a controversial VAR intervention during the round of 16, which annulled a second goal for Egypt and eventually allowed the South American side to secure a come-from-behind 3-2 victory.

The July 8 controversy quickly went viral on social media, highlighted by a parody video of Indonesian children reenacting the incident, which amassed more than 81 million views. Beyond the allure of the children impersonating Messi, the referee and other figures, including a comedic moment where a child discovers an Argentine jersey hidden beneath the referee's official uniform, the video reminds us of the sports world's long-standing struggle to uphold fair play.

It is safe to say the just-concluded World Cup will be remembered as much for its off-pitch geopolitical friction as for its on-pitch drama. Apart from contentious refereeing, the world bore witness to the host United States' discriminatory policies, which directly and indirectly compromised the performance of the Iranian team.

In the wake of the protracted hostilities between the two nations, Washington prohibited the Iranian squad from training on American soil. Consequently, the team was forced to establish its base in Tijuana, Mexico, and endure exhausting commutes to Los Angeles and Seattle for its group-stage matches. Furthermore, US authorities denied entry visas to several Iranian team officials, disrupting the squad's technical support.

Iran managed an unbeaten run, yet its three points from three consecutive draws proved insufficient to secure a spot in the knockout stage. In contrast, the US advanced to the round of 16. The host nation’s campaign eventually ended in a 4-1 loss to Belgium in a match overshadowed by controversy after FIFA rescinded a two-match ban on American striker Folarin Balogun at the eleventh hour, allowing him to take the field.